Fit/Finish: The wooden outer shell is not heavily finished, making it look and feel very natural. Gripping the pencil is comfortable given the very slightly flared out grip section, and the 4mm fixed sleeve ensures precision and reduced lead breakage. Branding is minimal, appearing only discreetly on the clip and center band. I especially enjoy the clip's attachment to the pencil's body - rather than two "prongs" that each go about halfway around the pencil, this one has one prong going nearly all the way, lending it a modern look. The only gripe I have is that the lead advance button is made of plastic - at this price point, a metal cap would have been nice. Eraser is your standard-issue "extreme emergency use only" fare, and can be extended slightly thanks to the metal holder.

Performance: The mechanism is rock-solid, and the three-point metal clutch holds the lead firmly. Using this pencil for any amount of time is a breeze because of its shape and relatively light weight - the balance point is close to the middle, too, making for a comfortable experience though pages of writing.

Overall: This pencil is one I held off on buying for a few months due to its $30+ price point, but when I saw it for $21 on Amazon, I sprung, and I think that anyone looking for an elegant, well-performing, precision writing instrument should too. MADE IN JAPAN.